02 Jul 2018, 19:30 | #51 |
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This is going to be very interesting. Especially the set-lists which presumably not limited to Bat 1 will have some variety. I don't recall this format being done before so it is groundbreaking for certain. They could throw in a meet and greet with a comfortably seated Meat to help draw more fans who may not know Caleb or what they are going to. I just hope this thing won't be limited to the Northeast and casinos and maybe Florida like so many have been. Meat and the NLE were excellent at DPAC in Durham NC a few years back which was his first NC appearance since the WTTN tour.
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02 Jul 2018, 19:54 | #52 |
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02 Jul 2018, 20:31 | #53 |
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I wonder if Meat will sing _at all_ during the tour. A song or two here and there. I have a feeling that he won't be able to stay away from the mic for a song or two per night VS an entire show. Its just not in him, I reckon.
We'll see. I'm VERY excited to see where this goes. |
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02 Jul 2018, 20:41 | #54 |
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Great news. Just when you think it's over Meat comes back again.
Wonder if it will be like a Storytellers tour set in theatres or will Meat try to target arenas in the UK? |
03 Jul 2018, 14:58 | #55 |
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I'm looking forward to this show. It's something that I know nothing about, which makes a refreshing change. I'm kinda hoping that it's an intimate theatre tour (but I'll take anything!!).
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03 Jul 2018, 20:19 | #56 | |
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I also can't imagine him staying off mic for the entire thing. He'll probably surprise a few audiences when he feels up to it. |
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04 Jul 2018, 12:50 | #57 |
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I hope he can manage part of a song acoustically or something in between the story telling. Shame Patti isnt involved.
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05 Jul 2018, 01:59 | #58 |
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I understand from someone promoting this in the UK we can expect a "teaser" to be released on the 20th July, then all the dates will be announced on the 25th July. I asked about venues and was told they'd prefer for people to wait for the full announcement on the format and venues. (I'm expecting the NLE and Caleb only on this tour).
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05 Jul 2018, 19:54 | #59 |
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They just need to very, very clear on Meat's role - if any at all beyond being a producer. Some of the public and most critics are rather dense. On dates Meat appears at (if any) his role as far as singing or not should be clear. At most I see him appearing during an encore as part of the whole ensemble if his health allows.
I also agree with those who say Patti Russo is really going to be missed. She has the experience with Meat's songs as well as her work with Queen. |
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05 Jul 2018, 20:12 | #60 | |
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I don't think he was ever planning to sing on the US shows, but rather to tell stories between songs, rather like at Vegas and in Storytellers' style. Whether he will carry that through will imo depend on how well he has recovered from his surgery .. but I wouldn't honestly see him trailing around the US on a tour at which he just appeared at the end. |
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05 Jul 2018, 22:02 | #61 |
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I never got the impression that he planned to sing, nor even appear at all - if any - of the shows. Though I know that people (and the media) will just assume so.
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06 Jul 2018, 01:55 | #62 |
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A couple of the articles I saw implied he would be there to talk about things like working with Jim Steinman. He may be at some and not others. The goal seems to be a Vegas residency, if that should happen he may sometimes appear if he is feeling well. I really don't think he will sing anything maybe a line or so in a story if that.
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06 Jul 2018, 02:59 | #63 |
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I'd think that when he and Paul were conceiving this Meat was thinking in terms of being a part of the show, not singing but telling stories about working with Jim, touring etc (remember he also had in his mind to write a book of stories "One Hundred Moments") .. like Durante, he has a million of 'em .. and he loves to interact with a live audience. The jumping-the-gun website referred to him being part of the show in that way, as do the recent press teasers.
What's thrown a spanner in the works is the extent of his back surgery, and lengthier and harder rehabilitation than I think he'd hoped for I can see the appeal of a residency ... he could take an apartment, travel a short distance to and from the venue on show days, and cut out all the stress and strain of hauling ass from place to place. But I think if he was part of the show it would need to be a constant throughout the residency (or indeed any tour in the US). People need to know what they're buying tickets for after all. He's doing this Comic Con thing in London at the end of this month because he made the commitment a long time ago, but that's an uncomfortable pond crossing and three days sitting and meeting fans. I really don't expect him to be touring in the UK this year .. they're announcing details around the time he's here, and at this stage in his recovery it would be really chancing things imo. Whether or not he'll be able at some point down the line to be an active part of the show is in the lap of the gods .. and so very disappointing and frustrating for him |
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06 Jul 2018, 08:52 | #64 |
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I've long thought that Meat could do a stage show just of telling his stories (kind of 'an evening with' format), but I guess there wouldn't be anywhere near as much commercial sense in such a venture as there would in concerts. So I guess this is - in a very small way - a cross between the two. At least, in the shows that he appears at. For the rest, maybe it'll be pre-recorded - like the interview footage for the 2013 tour.
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07 Jul 2018, 21:25 | #65 |
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Hang on a minute.....Meat won't even be at the shows? What exactly is the point of these shows then?
Nobody in Britain has heard of Caleb Johnson. He doesn't sound anything like Meat. With all due respect to Paul Crook, Randy Flowers, Jon Miceli et al nobody apart from the hardcore Meat fans have heard of them. Its basically a dodgy tribute act with somebody who doesn't sound like Meat Loaf. Although Caleb Johnson may be seen as a Z lister in US I doubt there is much appetite for this to sell out US theatres without Meat's involvement. Ticket sales will be terrible if Meat isn't attending. |
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07 Jul 2018, 23:37 | #66 | |
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But Axl Rose doesn't sound anything like Brian Johnson. Adam Lambert doesn't sound anything like Freddie Mercury. You can still have a good time I suspect but you'd have to set your expectations accordingly I reckon and that could be a sticking point of how to sell this / market the show. With Queen and ACDC continuing I understand perhaps some of the rationale behind what is being attempted here. I'd be interested to give this a go but I think it should be a high speed show in the spirit of what Meat used to do himself rather than a stop start thing with stories in between. I just can't see that suiting this type of music. I was never swayed with coming out to see the Vegas shows. I also hated when I saw some of the British tribute artists who did a great job with doing Meat's music doing all sorts of comedic breaks and talking crap between songs. |
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08 Jul 2018, 00:15 | #67 | ||
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I like to see the menu before I order a meal, even before I enter the restaurant. By the end of this month that will be in the window Quote:
In the US Meat has tended to perform in theatres anyway. If he were able to tell the stories in the US while Caleb sang the songs .. would I miss Meat delivering them? Of course. But I'd still love to see a show where he was on stage as raconteur and comedian And I'd still love to see Paul and the NLE delivering their exceptional take on Steinman's music. But here you will get your wish for a high speed show in the spirit of what Meat used to do .. it will however be the vegetarian option |
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08 Jul 2018, 13:30 | #68 |
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I don't watch American Idol and haven't listened to Caleb. But if there's a show in my area (and the timing is ok), I would probably go just out of curiosity
I mean absolutely no disrespect against Meat, and would honestly love to see him again and listen to his stories. However, at this point I would much rather have him not do the shows if doing so would cause him problems with his recovery ... as frustrating as it must be for him, his health comes first. He needs to think about the future and take the time he needs to make sure he's 100% again. |
09 Jul 2018, 15:55 | #69 |
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The promoter for the UK has now posted in more than one FB group. (I think he's picked on groups with large numbers registered as members .. not realising that numbers don't always equal live interaction in Meat's on-line community ) Essentially the message is that they want to make clear that Meat will not be appearing personally at any of the shows in the UK.
All the news stories reference the Sun article which was the first publication to run the story, and that article didn't really have any solid facts in it, just hearsay from a 'source close to the band'. There will be an announcement on 25 July with dates and venues for the tour which will feature the brilliant NLE , playing Steinman songs, delivered by Caleb Johnson. |
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09 Jul 2018, 20:13 | #70 |
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How many venues are we likely to see Caryl? And what sort of venues...theatres, arenas?
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09 Jul 2018, 23:12 | #71 |
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I really can't imagine many people care for this. Unlike Andrew's beliefs, I don't think you can compare the NLE to Queen, or AC/DC as those are real bands. The NLE is Meat's backing band with passing-through members. Some we liked more than others. But still.
So basically now you get a backing band with some contest winner doing a Bat tribute. It's nothing like experiencing the real deal. In fact, I am a real Patti fan. In Stuttgart 2013 Patti did Dead Ringer on her own after Meat left the stage. The vibe was even then, inmediately, less entertaining. Compared to my earlier comment about Picasso watching etc... Well Picasso is out of the picture. Enjoy! |
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10 Jul 2018, 00:36 | #72 | ||
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Sure Meat Loaf is a singer and is always different but I still understand what they are trying. If Angus Young steps in front of a bus tomorrow I still suspect you'd see ACDC somewhere, sometime. If Brian May gets abducted by aliens there still will be Queen at some point I bet. If Roger Taylor falls down the stairs carrying his drumkit I bet May would continue with the Queen name too. If both disappear, Adam Lambert I bet still will continue with the Queen name somehow at some point. That doesn't mean to say you need to like it or agree with it as the circumstances are of course a bit different. The Queen comparison makes sense since Adam Lambert was also an American Idol contestant. That doesn't make him Freddie as much as Caleb is not a Meat Loaf. It was actually interesting when I was growing up in The Netherlands in the 90s many youngsters in those days often thought Meat Loaf in fact WAS a band. A cousin I have at the time thought Meat was married to Dana Patrick. The misinformation was fun to hear but I think does highlight that sometimes artists can use and I'm sure have used that type of ignorance to continue with stuff. I'm sure many don't know who the original ACDC bandmembers were and many probably don't care when they hear the hits performed well. Jim Steinman's recycling of stuff I'm sure also doesn't matter to a large part of the audience who have enjoyed Meat Loaf's Rock N Roll Dreams and Celine Dion's It's all coming back and thus not giving a damn about the original renditions which often was superior. Quote:
I will be interested to see how it will pan out. I can't imagine it being that successful without Meat but who knows. It might just be one 10 date tour or so and you might never have to hear about it ever again. Or it could grow into something that lasts longer and gets its own legs beyond just the nostalgia factor. It definitely won't be as good as the glory days of the 90s and early 2000s and flashes of brilliance since then we had from Meat. Impossible. True. And the last time Meat performed in the UK and the Netherlands was 5 (!) years ago. He's been out of the picture quite a long time now. Time goes fast. Last edited by AndrewG; 10 Jul 2018 at 00:48. |
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10 Jul 2018, 01:41 | #73 |
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No harm in trying is my reaction. I would like a chance to see the results but it probably isn't likely. I can see them doing small theaters and drawing a couple hundred but I doubt it will pay the bills. This is a long shot. I can not think of another singer who authorized his own "tribute" (I hate that term) band. But as I said before at least it isn't some bar band with a fat guy pretending to be Meat Loaf. At least there is "quality control" for lack of a better term and maybe now we can get better sound mixes than in recent years. They definitely need to record this.
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10 Jul 2018, 02:24 | #74 |
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I honestly don't know. My guess would be theatres rather than arenas, if only because whilst booking the Meat tours must have been a quantifiable to estimate, this is new, without Meat, and Caleb a largely unknown quantity in the UK. But that is really just my guess, not a hint. The promoters (I believe VMS Live) have some track record in organising outdoor events, but given they're not announcing dates until the end of July, I woudn't have thought outdoor would be a good choice here So, I'd guess theatres, or smaller arenas if that was the way they went. We'll know in a couple of weeks
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10 Jul 2018, 02:39 | #75 |
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I agree with Andrew that it won't to us be as the glory days we had with Meat, and I'm sure they'll be depending fairly heavily on the nostalgia feeling to begin with. But the NLE are a really great band imo, and Caleb a very able singer of Steinman. Given the appeal of Steinman's music I think there's every possibility that it can grow legs and build an appeal with a new audience, carry the legacy into the future.
The Bat musical has been enormously successful, and is building its own new cult audience. No reason why this new venture should not be able to do the same, particularly here, where so many fans identify with and follow the band as well as Meat. Not likely to fill the O2 as yet .. but no reason why it should not build a solid following. |
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